Do You Have A Sugar Daddy?

Look at what kind of audience you are. You are probably only reading this article because the title and photo grabbed your attention. Well, get your mind out of the gutter. This is a parenting blog and that sort of discussion would not be appropriate here. All joking aside, this post is about sugar and about daddy, but not about a sugar daddy — unless you are talking about the candy, and in that case, then yes, we are.

See in some families, Daddy is the sugar dealer. However, in my family, that title goes to me. It is not something I am proud of, but I’m also not sure how ashamed of it I should be.

Sugar. Poor dreaded sugar. It has such a bad reputation. Sugar gets blamed for everything from behavioral problems, to sleeping trouble to obesity to teeth problems. And in most cases, sugar probably deserves the bad rap associated with it. An article posted on CBS News a couple years ago, went so far as to call sugar a toxin. Another article called sugar a poison — all because of the way Americans consume it. Alternatively, those on the other end of the this argument contend that sugar is a harmless part of childhood. Up until now, that has pretty much been my view of it.

Most likely, the right answer about sugar being “good”or “bad,” lies somewhere between the two extreme and divergent opinions. It may surprise you, but despite all of the buildup of controversy, most pediatricians and nutritionists seem to agree, that the right kind of sugar, if consumed in modest amounts, can be a part of a healthy diet.

Yes, too much of the bad sugar is surely detrimental to your child’s physical health and possibly their mental/behavioral health. But, some nutritionists and dieticians would tell you not completely rid your child’s diet of sugar; noting that not all sugars are created equal.

According to an article written by nutrition author, Sandi Busch, “Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains contain simple sugars. When simple sugars are naturally found in whole food, they come with vitamins, minerals, protein, phytochemicals and fiber. The presence of fiber makes a significant difference because it slows down the absorption of sugar, which moderates its impact on blood sugar.” As a quick reference for you, some “good” sugar foods include: ripe fruit, root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes), whole grains and some dairy products.

Listen…I’m totally okay with continuing to be my family’s sugar dealer, but I do believe that it is time that I look beyond the candy bowl, the free bakery cookies, the Lemonade, the cake pops and the sweetened cereals. There is a time and a place for special treats like that, but there should not be a place for them in my children’s daily diet.

Reader Interactions

Comments

I am the same way! I do try to get my son healthier cereals. If I make him oatmeal I sweeten it with no sugar added apple sauce. A few months ago my mom and I looked at the labels of all of the snacks we buy and then switched to the lowest sugar or no sugar added versions. It was insane how much sugar is in kids snacks! Buying fresh is definitely the way to go….but…sometimes It’s convenient to reach for a premade snack.

Thanks so much for the comment! Yes, when I actually take the time to look at the labels, I am horrified. But, not enough to stop feeding those certain foods to the kiddies I guess. Maybe I am lazy and maybe it is an excuse, but sometimes I just feel like it is so time-consuming and sometimes a battle to get the kids to eat well and I don’t always have the energy to fight it especially since mine are picky eaters. But, I do want them to eat healthier, so I am going to continue to work on it! I think you and I are on the same page! Thanks again for your comment.

My extended family tries to feed our son sugar at every step of the way. My husband thinks sugar is the sole reason he was a little terror as a child and I also fall somewhere between the extremes. I love the list.

Thanks for the comment, Addison! Just like you, I fall somewhere between the extremes. But, as a mother of three under the age of five, I do not stray from using the occasional Oreo or MnM as bribe. Prob should work on that though…Thanks again for the comment! 🙂

We don’t do a lot of sugar, and we don’t have sweets in the house. Mostly because my husband has no self control when it comes to sugary foods, but we also feel like the kids don’t need it. We also don’t use it as a ‘treat’ but that’s a whole different story. Love the ideas for non sugary snacks!

Thank you for the comment Katie! I am in complete admiration of you that you don’t even keep it in your house or use it as a “treat”. It is really a bad habit of mine to do that and encouraging a bad habit of them associating sugar as reward for good behavior. Definitely something I need to work on. Yes, I too thought the list was super helpful! Thanks so much for commenting!

in our case, not having it around creates bad habits too, when they do get their hands on it, like at Easter, when chocolate made it’s way into the baskets from my MIL and my mom for the kids. They’d sneak a piece and hide under the table to eat it ::facepalm:: instead of just asking…

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Meet Nicole

I am genuinely and embarrassingly authentic. I feel every word and live every sentence that I write. I would love for you to co-travel with me on a journey through parenthood, marriage, and self-discovery.